Plus Size Dresses

Plus Size Dresses at CoEdition

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews CoEdition's Try for Free clothing line and City Chic Dresses.
It wouldn’t be the holidays without sequins? Amirite? If you’re no stranger to Natalie in the City, you know that I love sequins all year round, but I especially love them around these wintry holiday months because no one will give me the side-eye for being “too extra.” Yes, I still worry about people judging me…who doesn’t?

I ordered this City Chic Bright Lights Dress from CoEdition because I just heard about a really cool initiative they are offering their customers. CoEdition is committed to finding the perfect fit for their customers so they just introduced their “Try For Free” line, which allows you to order from their best selling styles and you don’t have to pay for the clothing unless you love it. This means that you can practically turn your bedroom into your own personal fitting room. To take advantage of this initiative, all you need to do is enter your credit card information, and you won’t be charged until you confirm that the clothing fits and that you’re obsessed with it. CoEdition gives you five days to decide if you want the dress and if it’s the right fit. If the dress doesn’t work, you can return it at no charge!

I really love this initiative because ordering plus size clothing online can be so challenging, and so many stores have very unfriendly return policies, which affect plus size women more than any other demographic!

Huge shout out to CoEdition for launching their Try For Free initiative!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 20 in the  City Chic Bright Lights Dress, which is one size larger than my average size. I ordered this size because City Chic clothing usually runs small on me. I wasn’t displeased with the fit as it looked good on me, but I will be returning it to get a size 18 since the dress was roomy and does seem to run true to size. Thanks to CoEdition’s new initiative, I feel relieved that I can easily exchange this for my true size!

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews CoEdition's Try for Free clothing line and City Chic Dresses.
Plus Size Dresses

Plus Size ASOS Dresses

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews ASOS Curve Self Stripe Paneled Midi Dress.

You can probably tell by the title of this post that this dress reminds me of a skyscraper—maybe it’s the lines or the structured illusion the paneled dress creates. But unfortunately, just like my last blog post, this is another outfit fail for me.

I had the highest hopes for this ASOS Curve Self Stripe Paneled Midi Dress because it was unlike anything I have ever seen before. I was convinced that this would fit me so well and look so good on my curves. I loved that the black part of the dress made me feel like I was wearing a mini bodycon even though it was a midi dress.

I found this dress on ASOS, just like my last fail. I’m not sure why I have had such bad luck ordering from the reatiler because they literally don’t photoshop their models and they also have try on videos that show me what the clothing looks like In motion. However, with both this dress and the sweatshirt / pleated satin dress, I feel like I was mislead.

I feel like the biggest fit issues I have are because of my height. Maybe I mislead myself into thinking that these dresses would look good on my body even though the models were much taller than me. Oftentimes, I see something like this dress on a taller woman, and I rarely ever consider how the dress will fit my petite frame.

I wanted the Self Stripe Paneled Midi Dress to fit me like a bodycon from top to bottom. However, because I’m shorter, the bottom of the dress was looser, and I think that ultimately took away from the stunning silhouette the dress was intended to create. Looking back at the pictures, the dress actually looks pretty good on me, but I didn’t feel as confident as I wanted to in it, which is why I sent it back.

I rarely ever share my “fashion fails” with you all, but I have found it so refreshing to be honest about things that don’t fit me well. It’s important to remember that not everything I order fits me! I have frustrating moments in dressing rooms, too. I hope you find this information helpful!

SIZING INFO: I ordered a size 18 in the ASOS Curve Self Stripe Paneled Midi Dress, which is my usual size, and I think it fit okay. Ultimately, I wasn’t happy with the fit because the top of the dress was a bit restricting while the bottom portion of the dress was very loose.

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews ASOS Curve Self Stripe Paneled Midi Dress.

Life

Does CBD Help With Anxiety?

Does CBD help with anxiety? Equilibria women CBD for anxiety and stress is the best CBD for anxiety in 2020 Equilibria reviews

Does CBD help with anxiety? Equilibria women CBD for anxiety and stress is the best CBD for anxiety in 2020 Equilibria reviews

I guess I have struggled with some form of anxiety my whole adult life, and maybe even in my teen years. But my anxiety has become more prevalent in recent times because I am juggling a lot. On top of a full-time job as a magazine editor, I also run this blog, which may seem like it’s not a lot of work, but let me tell you, every second I am not at my magazine job, I am working on my blog job. And to make things even more complicated, I have a very emotionally-demanding parrot, as well as a very understanding boyfriend and caring friends who like to see me every once and a while, but understand that my schedule is hectic. In full transparency, I have been seeing a therapist for the past three years, and we have been working on moving through traumas and insecurities, but lately, we have been focused on my anxiety because it’s kind of taken a front seat. And I have been wondering… does CBD help with anxiety?

Is CBD right for me? 
I told my therapist that I wanted to start looking into CBD gummies for anxiety and stress, and she said while it was a good option for calming anxiety, she also tasked me with doing some heavy research on which brand and what kind of CBD would be best for me. If you aren’t familiar, CBD is a phytocannabinoid that is found in hemp flowers. Depending on the person, CBD oil can benefit mental and physical well-being when taken properly and consistently. There are so many smoke shops around my neighborhood that advertise that they carry CBD with neon lights, and inside they have containers of gummies, oils, and other CBD-infused remedies. But it didn’t feel right to me. So I took to the Internet and I found Equilibria women, a chicago-based, woman-owned CBD company that advertises “science, not miracles,” and their mission is to help women live their best lives. Immediately, they earned my trust. I looked into the Equilibria CBD reviews, and I found that so many women were benefiting from their product. Another really reassuring factor to me was that Equilibria has a CBD dosage consultant who is “on-call” whenever you need her. I definitely needed someone to tell me what I should start taking and how much of it because I had never taken CBD before.

Let’s try it!
So I decided to start with Equilibria’s Daily Softgels and Daily Drops. I must confess that the thought of a CBD oil (a.k.a the Daily Drops) wasn’t my favorite, but I learned that it may have a more immediate effect on me since the liquid is absorbed faster. I spoke with Maia, my dosage consultant, and she told me to start by taking one Daily Softgel in the morning and one full Daily Drop at night before bed. I wasn’t seeing much of a change after taking that dosage for a couple of weeks so then Maia upped my dosage to two Daily Softgels in the morning, and two full Daily Drops before bed. It was then that I started seeing a big difference in the way I was sleeping. I used to have very vivid stress dreams that would wake me up and keep me up every night. Taking two full Daily Drops before bed has helped me fall asleep quicker and it also has eliminated my stress dreams. When I take my daily Softgels in the morning, I don’t notice a huge change, but I do feel a little more mellow throughout the day. I can still get all my work done, I am just not pulling out my hair while I do so, which I think is great!

Three months later…
I have been using Equilibria’s CBD products on and off for the past three months, but I have found that the product is most effective when I take it consistently. So for the past three weeks, I have committed to taking it, just like I take my daily vitamins, and I have really loved what it’s doing for me. I still rely on Maia, my dosage consultant whenever I have questions. Recently, I decided to start taking a full Daily Drop when I feel like I am on an extreme edge. It helps relax me and it actually clears my mind when I am feeling foggy or bogged down by stress. While I don’t have any chronic pain or inflammation, I think CBD can also be really effective for people who struggle with those things. It’s definitely helped me get a handle on my anxiety, paired with learning tactics to help center and ground me in stressful situations. And I am also really happy that I chose to try a brand that is local to me and woman-owned. Equilibria feels like it’s personalized to me, and the team makes me feel like they truly care about how I am using their product and how it is affecting me. I think I can say that Equilibria has the best CBD for anxiety in 2020.

Have questions? I have the answers!
I’m still learning more about CBD, as well as seeing how to continues to affect me, but I found that Equilibria has some really great informational and educational content on their website, such as the RX Interactions, Lab Results, and Talk to a Dosage Specialist pages that can help you build your knowledge of CBD.

I also asked the Equilibria team to answer some questions that my followers on Instagram had about CBD and Equilibria. Find their responses below:

Do I need a medical marijuana card to purchase CBD? 
No, you do not need a medical marijuana card to purchase Equilibria or any other CBD that is hemp-derived. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production and sale of hemp bred with 0.3% percent or less THC. The industrial hemp plants we use in our products meet this requirement, and our full-spectrum, whole-flower hemp CBD products are completely federally legal.

Does CBD contain THC? 
Equilibria product contains less than 0.3% of THC which is federally legal and cannot get you high. That small amount of THC is important. CBD is more effective when combined with THC; scientists call it the ensemble effect. 

Are there any negative side effects of taking CBD? 
The world health organization released a report saying that CBD has a safe profile that is generally well-tolerated in most people—you cannot overdose on CBD and you cannot become addicted to it. The most common side effects reported are drowsiness, nausea or headaches – most people who experience these rare side effects find that they go away on their own. 

Is Equilibria full-spectrum CBD? 
Yes! Our CBD is Full Spectrum which means that it contains many other cannabinoids and terpenes in addition to the legal amount of THC (less than 0.3%). These components of the plant work together synergistically to amplify each other’s healing properties, making the CBD therapeutic benefits of CBD that much more effective. This reaction is also referred to as “The Entourage Effect.” 

How can I trust that I am getting CBD that is actually potent and not just a placebo? 
Our products are medical grade and include 3-5 times the cannabinoids and terpenes than most of the products on the market. You can find our third-party lab results on our website here. 

Is Equilibria marijuana-based CBD or hemp-based CBD? 
Our CBD is hemp-derived, making us federally legal.

Is CBD regulated? How can I trust that CBD is safe? 
While CBD is mostly an unregulated market, we’ve partnered with an organic farm in Colorado where we’ve chosen to follow all of the strictest medical marijuana laws even though we are not obligated to do so. See here for our third-party lab results. Because we have our own, single source, organic farm in Colorado, you can feel confident knowing you are getting the same product consistently batch to batch.

How has CBD helped current Equilibria users? 
The top 3 reasons our members use our CBD include anxiety, sleep, and chronic pain. We also have many members using our CBD for hormone regulation, headaches, and inflammation, among other things.

If you want to try Equilibria, you can use the code natalieinthecity for 15% off your first order! Please feel free to ask me any questions about my experience or reach out to Equilibria! You can contact me at natinthecity@gmail.com and you can find answers to more frequently asked questions on Equilibria’s FAQ page and the Equilibria reviews page

Thank you to Equilibria for sponsoring today’s post! All opinions in this post are 100% mine. I only recommend products that I have personally used and love! Thank you for supporting brands that make Natalie in the City a possibility!

Does CBD help with anxiety? Equilibria women CBD for anxiety and stress is the best CBD for anxiety in 2020 Equilibria reviews
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Plus Size Dresses

Mixed Feelings

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews an ASOS Mini dress made of sweater and pleats.

If one dress could accurately describe my current situation, it’s this one. I was so attracted to this Curve Plisse Mix Sweat Dress months ago when I saw it on one of my Instagram friends, and when I scrolled past it on ASOS last week, I decided to purchase it. Here’s the thing: it looked so good on my friend, and I loved the idea of it. Even just waiting for it to arrive, I was so excited. I mean, who would have ever thought that pleated satin could be paired with a sweatshirt. It was a genius idea…until it wasn’t.

The dress arrived, and I ripped open the package recklessly—I wouldn’t need to return this dress, it was what dreams were made of! I put it on and jumped in front of the mirror and instantly felt disappointed. Not only did the dress totally mask all of my curves, but the materials weren’t as luxe as they appeared online. I wore it around the house for am hour to see if little passes by the mirror could coax me into loving it. Welp, I ended up returning it. I still wanted to post about this dress because it came with some realizations.

Typically with an oversized, boxy dress like this, I would belt it to show off my curves more. But this dress just stumped me. I don’t know how I would belt a sweatshirt dress like this with the pleats. I kind of just gave up. Another problem I encountered with this dress was that it was such a strange length on me—this is typical for me because I am so short. Most midi dresses fall too far below my knees—and sometimes “mini” dresses do this, too—which I hate. Because I am only 5’2, I either want my dresses to fit me short or maxi. While I did love the soft grey and blush tones of the dress, I feel like they weren’t the best on my skin tone.

While I think these pictures actually turned out so cute, nothing could really convince me to keep this dress. UGH…It’s so cute, just not for me!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing size 18 in the Curve Plisse Mix Sweat Dress, which is my usual size, and I would say that the dress fit okay. It’s naturally a loose and oversized sweater, so it may seem like it’s a little bit big on me.

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews an ASOS Mini dress made of sweater and pleats.
Plus Size Outfit

I Went on a Shopping Spree

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Eloquii's leather moto jacket.

One Tuesday morning, I was feeling rather…adventurous (we will just say that). I decided to go on a shopping spree and order a bunch of things I wouldn’t usually wear. I was so excited for my packages to arrive, and I was feeling very optimistic. But when everything arrived…my enthusiasm left me.

I ended up returning almost everything due to sizing and sub-par materials. However, a lot of the stuff went back because I shouldn’t have ordered it in the first place. While I was shaking my head at bold, spur-of-the-moment decisions, there were a few keepers like this plus size Hot Pink Moto Jacket from Eloquii.  I will say, this was probably the most out of character purchase from the order, but it ended up being the biggest success. I think I own one other bright fuchsia piece of clothing and I never wear it. So I don’t know what made me think that this would be a great addition to my wardrobe, but honestly, I think about the jacket every day and I can’t wait until it makes it into another look. The first time I wore this jacket, I paired it with a beautiful pleated midi dress and a pair of black heels. The dress itself was simple, but the jacket turned it up a couple of notches.

A huge problem I had with my the items I bought during my shopping spree was the quality and feel of the clothing. Some materials looked super luxe online, but when I received them they felt cheap. I should have paid more attention to reviews, which is still something I am not the best at. So I have decided to partner with Trustpilot,  a consumer review website that is helping consumers share their voice and make an impact when it comes to honest reviews. I have been leaving reviews on Trustpilot, and rest assured that I absolutely left some reviews on some of the items from my recent spree. I encourage you to amplify your voice by leaving a review on Trustpilot. Not only will this help other consumers like yourself, but you also have the opportunity to reach your favorite brands with your critical feedback (Trustpilot will email your review to the brand if you want them to)! On top of that, if you leave a review by January 30, you’ll be entered to win a trip around the world with Trustpilot! They are taking five winners to NYC, London, Copenhagen, and Sydney! 

The rules are simple:

  • 1. Visit: reviewbetter.trustpilot.com
  • 2. Create an account
  • 3. Search for your favorite brand and leave a review on a recent purchase!

Good luck!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 18 in the  Hot Pink Moto Jacket from Eloquii,
which is my usual size, and the jacket fits perfectly! 

Thank you to Trustpilot for sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% my own!

 

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger, influencer, YouTuber, and model Natalie Craig, of Natalie in the City, reviews Eloquii's hot pink fuax leather moto jacket and shares how she is using Trustpilot.
Plus Size Activewear

Plus Size Fabletics Leggings

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City shares a  Fabletics promo code 2020
Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City shares a  Fabletics promo code 2020

It gets cold here in Chicago, real cold. And unfortunately, winter is hitting us a little early this year. Last winter, when I was going to the gym with my boyfriend at 2 AM I was reminded that I needed heavy-duty workout gear that I could wear both outside and at the gym during the winter season.

Fabletics definitely came through with its November drop, which included this gorgeous plus size hoodie, which is the warmest and most functional athletic hoodie I have ever owned. The neck of this jacket functions as both a hood and an infinity scarf. The front pocket of the jacket spans the entire width of the front of the sweatshirt, which keeps all of my belongings inside even if I am running. It also serves as an arm and handwarmer as I can fit my arms almost all the way inside—like I said, this hoodie is CRAZY! There are also zips on both sides to adjust the fit if need be. I also scooped up some Fabletics leggings, which is not only extremely cute but highly functional. The legging has pockets everywhere and even has zip-up pockets for extra storage. I am really excited to see what the December drop will include because I am sure Fabletics is going to come out with more workout gear that is winter-friendly!

If you want to try Fabletics, get your first two pants for only $24 here: Fabletics Promo Code 2020

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a 1X in both the Lotta Cocoon Hoodie II and the Trinity High-Waisted Utility Legging, which is my usual size at Fabletics, and they both fit perfectly! The hoodie is oversized, so you could size down if you wanted a tighter fit. 

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City shares a  Fabletics promo code 2020

Fabletics sent me this look to review. All opinions are 100% my own!

 

Plus Size Jackets

Plus Size Faux Shearling Coat

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Fashion Nova Curve's Faux Shearling Cropped Moto Jacket and sweater maxi dresses.

I felt myself shiver today. Even on the coldest days, rarely am I ever “too cold.” Maybe it was the way I was dressed—not practically, as usual—or the wind chill, but today felt like winter. I really don’t mind winter, in fact, I’d rather have it than summer on most days. And this year, I’m especially excited about it because I have so many plus size coats just waiting for their time to shine.

My first—and most worn thus far—coat of the season is this gorgeous A Little Extra Moto Jacket from Fashion Nova Curve. There are so many plus size faux shearling coats out there, but they are so expensive. So I’m glad I was able to find this budget-friendly faux shearling coat. However, it did come with a few flaws. The faux fur material on the interior of the coat sheds for the first couple of wears. So I just recommend taking a lint roller to the jacket before you wear it. Another feature I wasn’t too excited about was the buckles on the lower sleeves. These buckles are very loose and often slide off the sleeve and make a lot of noise. One quick fix I think I’m going to try is using safety pins to fasten them to the sleeve. Other than that, the coat is absolutely gorgeous. On this day, I paired the coat with my all-time favorite lace-up sweater maxi dress, which is also from Fashion Nova. I’ve been wearing this dress for the longest time, and I am so happy to whip it back out of my closet for winter.

If you love this look, you can score it for 20% off by using the code NATINTHECITY on your next Fashion Nova purchase.

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X, which is my usual size, and the jacket fits perfectly! I usually have problems with the arm area with most coats, but this jacket fits very well in the arms.

 

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Fashion Nova Curve's Faux Shearling Cropped Moto Jacket and sweater maxi dresses.
Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Fashion Nova Curve's Faux Shearling Cropped Moto Jacket and sweater maxi dresses.
 
Fashion Nova sent me this look to review. All opinions are 100% my own!
Wide Calf Boots

OVER THE KNEE BLACK HEELED BOOTS

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City wears plus size dresses and wide calf boots

 

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City wears plus size dresses and wide calf boots

By now, you shouldn’t be surprised that I have been wearing more animal print than ever before. The previously shunned prints have made their way back into my life, and I have been loving how much life leopard adds to my wardrobe. Leopard is the must-have print of this season acting as both a neutral and a statement.

My boyfriend must have picked up on my new love for leopard because he surprised me with this outfit. He even picked out this circle bag, which he knew I would love! This plus size dress from H&M in many ways; the length falls on 5’2 figure just the way I like, the cinching in the waist ensures that my curves aren’t lost in the flow of the dress, and the print is fierce. I am always looking for dresses that fit me well in terms of length. Because I am petite and plus size, I can rarely ever expect a dress to fit me the way it’s “supposed to fit” everyone else. The fact that this dress hits me in just the right spots is huge. I absolutely love the length because it’s short enough to make me feel sexy but long enough to be practical for every occasion. Whether my boyfriend carefully considered each of these factors when he bought the dress for me or not, it was such a sweet gesture. I love wearing the dress with these Wide-Calf Knee High Boots, a pair of ankle boots, or low block heels, depending on the occasion. I topped off the look with this Quilted Shoulder Bag. I have been obsessed with circular bags for quite some time, and I always wear this jewel-tone green circle bag—even if it doesn’t match my outfit. So my boyfriend got me this bag so that I could wear it with everything! He’s the best!

Before we end this blog post, shall we discuss these boots? Trust me, when fall runs around, I am SCRAMBLING to find over the knee black heeled boots. When I saw that Eloquii, sold wide calf boots with a low heel I was sold. So I rushed into my local Eloquii and tried on the Riko boot. They fit very well, but the top of the boot was a little different than the rest…it was much tighter, which kind of made my lower high look like it was being squeezed. It wasn’t the best look at first, but I started wearing the boots just under my knee, and I think they look best that way!

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in the H&M+ Short Dress, which is my usual size, and the dress fits perfectly! I am wearing a size 8 in the Wide-Calf Knee High Boots, which is one size smaller than my usual size. The boots are also wide fit, which is why I sized down. 

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City wears plus size dresses and wide calf bootsChicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City wears plus size dresses and wide calf boots

Plus Size Outfit

GOLDEN HOUR

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Marée Pour Tai's pleated wrap suede midi skirts.

I have never ever had the opportunity to take photos during “golden hour,” but I have always loved sunset photos because the lighting is diffused and warm, which gives the photo a vibe unlike any other. So I recently trekked up to my rooftop during sunset to snap these beautiful photos.

I had the perfect outfit in mind for the night. I recently received an order from Marée Pour Toi, one of my favorite plus size brands to shop for work and play, and inside was this beautiful Pleated Suede  Skirt and V Neck Sequin Top. Originally, I ordered the skirt and the top to be worn separately, but upon opening the package and seeing the two together, I fell in love with the contrast. If it was a bit cooler outside, I would have topped the look off with my Open Sleeve Blazer, which I also wore to the Lex Deaux Plateaux while I was in Paris. I have since wore the skirt on many occasions. I just cant resist the buttery soft, cozy material and pairing it with all of the fall sweaters in my closet.

SIZING INFO: I am wearing both the Pleated Suede  Skirt and V Neck Sequin Top in a size 18, which is my usual size, and both garments fit perfectly. For the sequin tank top, the fit is a little more structured and doesn’t stretch at all. 


Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Marée Pour Tai's pleated wrap suede midi skirts.

 

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Marée Pour Tai's pleated wrap suede midi skirts.

 

Marée Pour Toi sent me this look to review. All opinions are my own
Plus Size Outfit

Plus Size Rain Coat

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Fashion Nova Curve's Coated Raincoat.
I don’t think I have ever owned a raincoat—until now. I guess I have never really needed one or I thought they were kind of excessive. I usually go for a cropped moto or leather jacket when it’s raining, and then I transition to a winter coat because here in Chicago, we barely have an actual fall season.

However, I am excited that I have a raincoat this year, and it’s very chic to say the least. This We Hound Love Houndstooth Coat is unlike any kind of coat I’ve ever seen, and I had to get my hands on it. What makes this coat perfect for rainy days is the coated material it’s made of, which gives it a shiny look and also makes it sort of water repellent. I could wear the trench with anything this season, but on this day, I paired it with this beautiful Phoebe Pleated Midi Dress. I love this dress because it’s something that will stay in my closet for years because its classic and versatile.

If you love this Fashion Nova look, you can score it for 20% off with the code “NATINTHECITY.” 

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in both the Phoebe Pleated Midi Dress and the We Hound Love Houndstooth Coat, which is my usual size, but I think both of these garments have slight fit issues. First, let’s start with the dress. The dress is a little tight, and unfortunately because it fits kind of snug, the pleats aren’t very apparent. If I could do it over again, I would order a 3X.

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City reviews Fashion Nova Curve's Coated Raincoat.

 

Fashion Nova sent me this look to review. All opinions are my own!
Plus Size Activewear

Are Fabletics Leggings Good?

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City are fabletics leggings good

I can’t even tell you how long I have been searching for saucy looking gym gear. When I stumbled across the Kelly Rowland Fabletics line, I saw my favorite shade of green, and then I laid eyes on this Fearless set. From the metallic leather-like side panels to the matte cropped hoodie, it was everything I had ever dreamed for when it came to athleisure outfits. P.S. Fabletics is one of the best athleisure brands because a lot of their workout sets can be worn outside of the gym while still looking stylish. I love that the color of the whole look is the same, but it still boasts so much contrast with the different fabric textures. I don’t know why, but I have always been drawn to monochromatic color schemes and outfits—there is just something so sharp and eye-catching about them.

So are Fabletics leggings good? I have to say that they are actually my athletic legging of choice, especially for plus size women because they are squat proof and are never see through. For these specific leggings, I got to choose my inseam length, which was very helpful as everything usually runs very long on my 5’2 frame. And as you can see, the short inseam fits me so well. In the PowerHold Fabletics leggings I ordered my usual size, which is a 1X (16-18), and these have to be my favorite fit yet! They weren’t too tight or loose. I was also pleasantly surprised at how well this plus size jacket fit me because it only went up to a size XXL, which is my usual size, but sometimes the XXL doesn’t fit like a true plus-size 2X many places. This cropped hoodie actually runs pretty big and I think even a size 3X or 4X could comfortably wear it. For the plus size sports bra I did size up to a 2X because Fabletics bras have always been a little too small and too tight, and I was actually pleased with the fit.

As you can tell, I am ecstatic about this set. So if you see me out in it at least three days a week, don’t judge me!

If you want to become a Fabletics VIP, sign up here to get your first two pants for only $24: Fabletics Promo Code 2020

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City are fabletics leggings good

 

Plus Size Outfit

It’s Pink October

 

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City partners with Gordmans for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Gordmans is turning October into Pink October. Throughout the rest of this month, you can help Gordmans raise money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) by shopping in store and posting about your #GotItAtGordmans finds on social media and using the hashtag #IPinkICan! For every Instagram photo posted with the hashtag, Gordmans will donate $1.00 to support BCRF. Gordmans believes that research is the only way to end breast cancer, which is why they have decided to help BCRF lead the way. Gordmans also wants to honor those impacted by breast cancer and their loved ones this month, and they encourage you to tell them your reason for standing behind breast cancer research through using the hashtag:  #ResearchIsTheReason.

Of course, I also wanted to partake in helping Gordmans empower BCRF! To celebrate and raise awareness for Pink October, I headed to Gordmans for inspiration. I don’t have a lot of pink garments in my wardrobe so I was excited to add some pops of color into these looks. I’ll be wearing this look to work at least once a week! I love that this Lane Bryant top is feminine and fun with the orchid color and pleated sleeves. I have never had anything like it before! I actually tied it in the front to transform it into a crop top to go with this houndstooth skirt, but I could have also tucked it in. I can also wear this as a normal blouse with jeans or slacks—versatility is always key with me! To top off the look, I plopped on these rhinestone clips, which are so trendy! Overall, I scored this whole look for less than $40! Can you believe it?!

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City partners with Gordmans for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

While I was shopping, I noticed that Gordmans had “Pink” items, including this watch, and I learned that 50% of the purchase price of these items will also go to BCRF. You can learn more about how your store will be celebrating Pink October by clicking HERE. Of course, this watch will pair well with anything, but I had this gorgeous, cozy pink sweater in my cart and I couldn’t envision it with anything else. I love this second look as a casual, everyday look that’s effortlessly chic—and comfortable!

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City partners with Gordmans for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City partners with Gordmans for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Find your closest Gordmans store by visiting Gordmans.com… and do not forget to invite me!

Thank you to Specialty Retailers, Inc. for sponsoring this post. I am a huge proponent of brands that promote inclusivity and sell high-quality, well-fitting clothing. All opinions expressed in this post are 110% my own! Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make Natalie in the City a possibility!

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City partners with Gordmans for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Chicago Plus Size Petite Fashion Blogger Natalie in the City partners with Gordmans for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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